Stage Items.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1093, 23 March 1911, Page 22

Stage Items.

(Contiued from Page 17. )

a fresh world’s piano-playing record. At the conclusion of his arduous feat

Mr Stirton was given an enthusiastic reception, and to mark the event he is to be presented with a handsome trophy. « • « a From Collier to Tenor. Mr. Charles Heath, the popular tenor at Fullers’ Vaudeville just now (whose photograph is reproduced in this issue) has some interesting reminiscences in connection with his career. Starting work in the Burwood colliery, he stuck vigorously to it, and followed it up until he had a responsible position. Being advised to learn singing (the manager having heard him casually), he took up studies seriously, and after six months won the tenor solo in a musical tournament with “Good Company.” That gave him encouragement, and he succeeded in wanning every tenor solo he competed for at many musical festivals and Eisteddfods in ; New South Wales. Mr. Heath was on strike as a coal winner in the last memorable Newcastle strike of 1910, and was found by Mr. John Fuller jun. in that year singing at an open-air concert for the benefit of and the amusement of the strikers and their wives and children, and was persuad- . ed by him to join his new. Vaudeville Company in New Zealand. Mr. Heath accepted the offer, and judging by his reception he is likely to remain in high favour with the public. » « * « Dolores is Coming. We are having no dearth of good things in the musical line just now. Madame Dolores is due here for three concerts in the Choral Hall on April 8, 10 and 13, a fact which will delight music lovers. Further particulars will appear later. The Whip. Mr. J. C. Williamson is sending to Auckland, opening on Easter Saturday the big Drury Lane drama, The Whip. The Whip is the greatest success that Old Drury has ever known. It has remained the sole attraction for two seasons, a thing unheard of previously in the annals of this theatre. The production of the play is said to be littleshort of stupendous. It necessitates the carrying of a treble staff of mechanics, electricians, artificers and stage carpenters. There will be three wireless experts, specially engaged. The race for the 2,000 guineas, renders imperative, the travelling of 12 thoroughbred horses, four professional riders, and a qualified trainer. There is a fox hunt in which a pack of hounds are engaged, a wonderful railway collision, a remarkable scene at Madame Tussauds wax works in London, a fine exposition of the Royal Horse show at Olympia and a magnificent scene in which is shown a banquet given to the Master of the Quorn Hunt. The company will be identically the same as obtained in Sydney and Melbourne. An all English organisation, comprising some of the finest artists in the United Kingdom. The expenses attached to bringing so important an attraction as The Whip

to New Zealand, are very heavy and it is only by a liberal public patronage that the venture can hope to meet with success. No better artist is to be had in England than Miss Marie Illington, who will be prominent in the play. Mr. Ambrose Manning, last in New Zealand with the late Wilson Barrett, is an actor with a reputation world-wide. Mr. Lionel Atwill is recognised as one of the best juvenile leads on the English stage. Mr. Charles Blackall and Mr. Charles Graham are also actors of reputation on the London stage, as are also Miss Evelyn Kerry and Miss Fyfe Alexander. Taken all round The Whip promises to be something decidedly out of the ordinary.

The Übiquitous Pictures. An excited clerk burst into the office of a well-known local institution one day last week, says Sydney S. and D. News. He was quite satisfied there were lunatics in the picture business. During his luncheon hour he had strolled across Princes Bridge and in the precincts of Wirth’s Park discovered a battle with bowie knives, revolvers, and a cinematograph machine. He was watching for some minutes when a nervous individual happened along, and enquired the cause of the disturbance. One glimpse of the affray was sufficient to satisfy the latter that riot and murder were gojng on. His duty as a citizen was to prevent depopulation, and he forthwith dashed to Princess Bridge and induced a wondering constable to hurry to the scene. The constable smiled and returned to his beat, and the loyalist was last seen on the rear seat of an ambulance waggon proceeding across the bridge. A Picture Company was the cause of the trouble and was doing an equestrian drama for biograph purposes.